Soon, you can see how a furniture will look in your room before you buy it. Apple and IKEA are reportedly creating an AR app that lets customer superimpose objects onto their surroundings, to preview how it would match the space.
Michael Valdsgaard, IKEA’s digital transformation manager, told Swedish website Digital.di, “This will be the first augmented reality app that allows you to make reliable buying decisions.”
The initial version of the app would allow customers to take photos of their surroundings and use the app to place the furniture on the picture. Valdsgaard said users will be able to position products with millimeter precision and sizing of the products will be to scale. Eventually, customers may be able to try out products and then order them through the app.
The current IKEA catalog app already has a similar function, but with less accuracy. You can click on a furniture and see it superimposed on whatever your camera points at, and perhaps drag the furniture around for a rough idea. With the partnership with Apple, Valdsgaard says the new app will be better with the Cupertino giant’s technology and experience with AR.
Other companies have had similar functioning apps as well, including Lowe’s and Pottery Barn. Lowe’s app uses AR to help customers navigate their stores and VR to give lessons on how to successfully complete certain home improvement projects.
Valdsgaard says they would like to have the app available by the iOS 11 debut, but that it may not be possible. IKEA expects to have 500-600 products available on the app at launch.
